Inspection 12 getting together again for holiday shows this week

Tamara McClaran

Wednesday

Dec 24, 2008 at 12:01 AM

Guitarist James Trimble is looking forward to celebrating Christmas in Jacksonville and spending time with his friends and band, Inspection 12."I can't live without the band," said Trimble, who is attending medical school at the State University of New York in Syracuse. "No matter what is going on in my life, I always find time for Inspection 12."The Jacksonville band does only a few shows a year and the Christmas holiday is one of the few times the band can get together. Inspection 12 will play on Saturday at Freebird Live in Jacksonville Beach. The national touring act Whole Wheat Bread, also from Jacksonville, will open the show.Just as they have done for the past few years, Inspection 12 will also play an acoustic show on Thursday, Christmas night, at Jack Rabbits, 1528 Hendricks Ave. in Jacksonville. The show has become a holiday tradition for the band."Inspection 12 goes with Christmas," Trimble said. "We have performed Christmas shows now for so many years. We're great friends and it's really something special for us."Over the years, the lineup has changed several times since the band formed in 1994 and its music has evolved from punk rock to a punk pop rock sound. Inspection 12's current lineup is Trimble, Dan McLintock on guitar and vocals, Pete Mosely on bass and Tim Grisnik on drums. McLintock is the band's only original member and Mosely is known for also playing with the Jacksonville band Yellowcard.Inspection 12 started with four middle school friends. As the musicians progressed from covers to original tunes, they attracted a following, toured and signed a record deal with Honest Don, a punk label. But along with the ups came many downs. The label eventually dropped them and the band had to buy back the album it had already recorded with the label for a self-release.Hardest of all, they lost their good friend and drummer Scott Shad, who died at age 20 after he went into diabetic shock while driving. Shad's death was devastating to the band and fans. He continues to inspire Inspection 12's members."We stay true to what we think he would have wanted," said Trimble, who is also Shad's cousin. "We think he would be proud of us."For the past few years, band members have been focusing on school, jobs and other musical projects outside of Inspection 12. McLintock and Grisnik are also part of The John Carver Band.Yet there are opportunities on the horizon, Trimble said. He said the band has an immediate goal of recording a live record and eventually would like to release another full-length studio album. Inspection 12 is also scheduled to travel to Japan for a four-date tour coordinated by Takeover Digital in May."Everyone is really clicking," he said. "We are excited about our shows. This is really important to us."

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